Lorient v Auxerre: top-half push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Lorient host Auxerre in Ligue 1 on Sunday, 1 March 2026 at Stade du Moustoir, with a top-half bid colliding with a survival fight as the hosts sit ninth and the visitors occupy the relegation play-off place.

Auxerre edged the reverse fixture 1-0 in August, but Lorient now arrive with momentum and home advantage in their favour.

Lorient have taken seven points from their last three league games, drawing 3-3 at Nice after back-to-back wins over Angers and Nantes, following earlier victories at Rennes and Monaco. Auxerre's recent run shows one win in five: a 3-1 success at Metz, goalless draws with Toulouse and Paris FC, and defeats to PSG and Rennes.

Arsène Kouassi is listed as injured for Lorient. Auxerre's absentee list includes Francisco Sierralta, Romain Faivre, Oussama El Azzouzi, Lasso Coulibaly, Telli Siwe and Tidiane Devernois.

Olivier Pantaloni's side have scored 32 league goals at 1.4 per game with 84.60% passing accuracy, and Pablo Pagis sits among the division's leading scorers on eight, supported by Bamba Dieng's threat. Christophe Pélissier's men have managed five clean sheets but just 17 goals at 0.7 per game. Lassine Sinayoko leads their line with six and could be the outlet if chances are limited.

A home win would lift Lorient to 35 points and further cement their top-half position. Victory for Auxerre would take them to 20 points and could ease the pressure around the relegation play-off spot.